In addition to being the most environmentally friendly, concrete also contributes to the triple bottom line of sustainable development. Freshly mixed, concrete is soft and plastic. When hardened, it is strong and resistant to damage from extreme weather conditions and man-made events. Concrete is widely used in construction projects, from skyscrapers to bridges, sidewalks, highways, and even houses. This material reduces negative environmental impacts in a wide variety of industries.
Another important characteristic of concrete is its ability to last for decades. Unlike timber and steel, concrete does not need regular coating or painting. Most coatings are applied for aesthetic purposes. Additionally, concrete stores and regulates internal temperatures, allowing buildings to remain comfortable during the summer and cool during the winter. This greatly reduces heating and cooling requirements. Lastly, concrete is easily available locally. It can be poured into walls, slabs, or floors, and it can be applied by hand.
Another key feature of concrete is its fire resistance. While most building materials are flammable, concrete shells can withstand the damage of a fire. In fact, fire departments in the United States respond to an average of 355,000 house fires each year. Fires in homes cost an estimated $6 billion in damage. With these statistics, it’s no surprise that concrete is the best construction material. When used appropriately, concrete can increase a home’s value by hundreds of percent.
Another benefit of concrete is its environmental impact. If every building built today is made of concrete, it will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that a building produces. It will reduce the heating and cooling demands of a building and, in turn, reduce operational carbon. Additionally, concrete’s thermal mass will help prevent overheating – a problem that has been increasing in recent years. The use of concrete in construction is also highly recyclable, which reduces the need for on-site plants.
Concrete also has ecological benefits. It absorbs sun rays and traps gases emitted by air conditioning units and cars. As a result, concrete is better than asphalt in terms of climate change and human health.
China is the world’s largest user of concrete. The country’s property sector accounts for around a third of its GDP growth. Moreover, each major city in the country has a floor-sized scale model of urban development plans, which is constantly being updated to suit the country’s current needs. As the construction boom continues, the white plastic models transform into concrete towers, mega-malls, and other buildings.
In addition, concrete has many benefits. Its life span is longer than that of most other common building materials. It is also efficient at absorbing heat, which cuts down on the cost of HVAC. Another advantage of concrete is that it produces less waste than most other materials and can be produced in batches according to project needs. While wood buildings have their advantages, they are not as safe as concrete structures. Wooden structures are more susceptible to external factors, which can lead to structural damage or safety risks.